Porcelain Dental Inlays/Onlays

Inlays & Onlays Bismarck, Garrison – North Dakota

What are Dental Inlays and Onlays?

Porcelain dental inlays and onlays are one option available from Deeter Dental to replace your old metal amalgam fillings. Our cosmetic dentists know how important it is that people notice you, not your metal fillings. To ensure that your smile looks as natural as possible, we offer tooth colored fillings to patients in Bismarck and the surrounding areas.

Creating Your Porcelain Filling

The first step of the process for creating a porcelain dental inlay or onlay is very similar to creating any other type of filling. Dr. Matt, Dr. Lucas, or Dr. Terry will remove the metal amalgam filling. If we are simply repairing a cavity, we will remove the damaged tooth material and, if necessary, a small portion of the remainder of the tooth in order to allow the porcelain inlay or onlay to be applied properly.

In most cases, the size of a porcelain dental inlay or onlay is only a fraction of an inch. We will always remove the minimum amount of tooth tissue possible to preserve your natural structure. If too much of your tooth is damaged, our team may recommend a tooth crown instead of a filling in order to better protect the remainder of your tooth.

An impression or digital image of your tooth will be taken and sent to one of our highly specialized dental labs, where the porcelain dental inlay or onlay will be made. We will supply you with a temporary filling to protect the tooth while the porcelain dental inlay or onlay is being created.

Placing Your Porcelain Dental Inlay or Onlay

When our office receives your porcelain inlay or onlay back from the dental lab, we will place the inlay or onlay using a strong dental adhesive and seal the setting to protect your tooth from moisture and bacteria. When your porcelain inlay or onlay is placed, you can eat and drink as usual the same day. Your restoration does not require any special care.

Porcelain dental inlays and onlays are usually preferred for cavities that require a larger portion of the tooth to be removed. For smaller cavities requiring more minimal tooth material removal, composite fillings are often preferred because they do not need as much preparation and can be placed in a single office visit.